Northern San Juan • Entered by Robyn Cascade on May 4, 2023
Bighorn Sheep Advocacy
January 17, 2023 – April 6, 2023
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 0 |
| Post Admin hours | 1 |
| Activity Hours | 24 |
| Participants | 1 |
| Total Hours | 25 |
Key Issue: Wildlife Protection
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society (RMBS;) Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA;) Advocates for the West (AFW;) Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Mountain Studies Institute (MSI)
Landscape/area: Uncompahgre National Forest (951767 acres)
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Advocacy actions (3 emails)
Outcome 2: Advocacy actions (2 calls)
Short Description of Activity
Continue efforts to protect bighorn sheep in our region -especially Tier 1 herd SB-21 – from contact with domestic sheep during summer grazing in high altitude allotments. Engagement includes regular communication (phone/emails) with BLM Gunnison Field Manager Jon Kaminsky regarding the grazing permit proposed decision, permit terms and conditions & the BLM SW subRAC tasked with making recommendations to BLM. Robyn provided Jon with photos and first hand witness of non-compliance in the American Lakes allotment.
Ongoing communication/advocacy with partner organizations.
Advocacy for additional bighorn sheep monitoring signage at critical trailheads. Contact with Ute Mtn Ute biologist Ben Robinson regarding priorities of tribe related to bighorn. Phone call with GMUG Forest Supervisor Chad Stewart regarding Bear Creek allotment. Introduced Chad to Terry Meyers (ED Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society.) Distribution of 2022 Bighorn Sheep Monitoring report. Inclusion of BLM Gunnison proposed decision (referenced above) in the first (of a new series of quarterly) meeting with BLM State Director Doug Vilsack. Sara H attended this meeting. Attended Advocates for the West (AFW) webinar regarding protecting bighorn through litigation (3 scenarios) which resulted in relationship with Will Shoemaker, Communications/Engagement Director for AFW-based in CO.
Reflection/Evaluation
Continuing to build relationships and capture the attention of decision-makers like Jon K and Chad S. Significant that Chad wasn’t aware of the numerous sighting of bighorn in USFS Bear Creek allotment and that Jon could view our photos of infractions in the BLM American Lakes allotment to which he replied that he would dialogue with permittees about best practices. Needing to follow up with Ben Robinson and Will Shoemaker.
USFS Ouray District is resisting installing additional trailhead signs at Uncompahgre Forest trailheads, so we persevere with the help of MSI.